Saturday, July 28, 2012

Praise the Lord! He did
great things the week of July 2 when Mary Whelchel came to speak at five seminar
locations to Tabitha Ministry Bible study members. I wish you could have attended the meetings with us to catch the joy
and energy of God’s people worshiping, and drinking up teaching from the
Word.

Mary Whelchel (right) of The Christian
Working Woman ministry in Chicago, came for her fourth year to visit Tabitha
Ministry. Peris Rotich (left) my assistant in Tabitha, translated for her and
did very well.

Monday – Kitoben – We had
around 500 women come from the area, eager to worship together and hear the
Word of God. Even those standing in the back were actively listening,
taking notes, learning how to take a short passage of Scripture and find
application in it for themselves. It was wonderful to see that most of
the women had Bibles, and most made a commitment to feed themselves on the Word
every day. Pastors came with the leaders from the newest area where Bible
studies are multiplying, in the Nyongores area, and they were thrilled with the practical teaching on how to feed
yourself from the Word.

Tuesday – Goitabsilibwet –
Around two hundred women came from an area where studies began in
2011. Some eighty-year-old women were the most eager to testify as
to the importance of the Word in their lives. We had to talk with the
pastor counselor in this area to tell him to slow down on his rate of opening
new studies, so we could assure that the leaders would be mentored and
supervised. He is very enthused!

Wednesday – Kaparuso – We
drove an hour to get to this village, seeing gorgeous views as we drove, of
ridges of green hills. From the second and third ridges, women walked,
some of them 3-4 hours, to get to the meeting. The drama of the Gibeonites from
Joshua 9 was hilarious, with good explanation of the application to
life. Around five hundred women came, but out of the 500 there, maybe only ¼ of them had
Bibles. (In this picture, the women standing have not yet received Bibles.) We came away with a real sense of the need of God’s Word for
every family, and a desire to have God provide funding for Bibles so we could
distribute more.

Thursday – Silibwet – Here at
least 550 women gathered from 40-50 studies. Some have been in the
studies for years, and others are just beginning in this area. Women
crowded at the doors and windows to listen (pictured above). Again, the response was
moving, to see them stand in commitment to read the Bible every day so that
they can grow in Christ.

Friday – Njorwet – The 350
women plus men who attended here packed out the small church in the morning so
we moved the meeting outside. These studies have started because of the
work of God in one poor woman, named Betty (pictured above). She was desperate in 2008
when, estranged from her husband, she moved to find a job picking tea.
While there, she prayed earnestly to know God and His Word, and she came upon a
Tabitha women’s Bible study. She drank up the teaching and quickly earned
her own Bible. When she returned to her husband and his area in 2009, she began
studies, backed by the local pastors. Now there are ten active studies
going, and many, many women learning God’s Word because of Betty’s faithfulness
to share with others what she has found in Christ and in His Word.

Overall, it was a fantastic
week. I thank God for all the leaders who worked so hard to put it
together, organizing their members to feed the crowds each day, and
enthusiastically welcoming us wherever we went. They love the Lord and
His Word, and their joy is in Him. I am thankful for Mary’s ministry to
the Kenyans, and to me, as a personal friend and encourager in this
ministry. And most of all, I thank the Lord for His work during the
week. Many, many women whom I have talked with since are using Mary’s
practical pointers and reading the Bible each day. They will be growing
in knowing Jesus, and growing to be like Him. This is our goal.
Colossians 1:28,29. Your prayers are making a difference. Praise the Lord!!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

COWS, BIBLES, HOUSES, AND CHANGED LIVES

We continue to see God touch lives through the Tabitha
Ministry. We are
so grateful for you who are partnering with us in prayer and finances.In this way, you are part of touching people
like Janet, Benaline, and Betty, in the stories that follow.

“When I see this cow,
I understand that God loves me and cares for me.”

These were the words of Janet Chumo last week at the church
service where a gift cow was presented to her and her children.Her husband left her fifteen years ago, and
she turned to the Lord and began to follow Him at that time.She says God has been faithful to her in the
difficulties.She is now an energetic
women’s leader in her church, and has raised six children on her own, most of
whom are following the Lord.She led the
women singing a song she had helped write from Ps. 33:1-5 and 20-22, especially
emphasizing the verse,“In Him our
hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name!”

Benaline

I didn’t realize what
a treasure the Bible was until I had my own, and could study God’s Word.I am learning so much…Ladies, even at this
time when there isn’t much food, sit at the table and read the Word of
God.He will bless you.

This
was the testimony of Benaline Maritim whobecame a Bible study leader last year.She was attending the church service last
Sunday at Kipsimbol where we presented 34 Bibles to women who had earned
them.Among the recipients were three
sisters in their eighties, the oldest of whom gave a stirring testimony of the
importance of God and His Word in her life.

Bibles for Kipsimbol

John and Betty Langat and children

I was longing for
Jesus, and I found the women’s Bible studies where I could get to know Him
better.My life is His!

Testimony of Betty Langat, one of our poorest Bible study
leaders, yet so rich in spiritual fervor for the Lord.Estranged from her husband several years ago,
she moved to a village where one of our Bible studies was going.She joined, and has been active since.She eventually returned to her husband,
starting several studies along the way.In
March we gathered to dedicate their new house, built by her local church with
the help of Tabitha Ministry. In the crowd that gathered to celebrate were one
hundred ladies who had earned their Bibles, from nine different studies
started, because of Betty’s testimony.Praise God!We need to pray for
her husband John to come to the Lord.

Thank you for the many who have contributed to Tabitha
Ministry fund over the past six months.We have been able todistribute 840 Bibles,
purchase 12 cows, and help with 12houses since November 2011, in addition to
other practical helps. We have about 150 studies in the villages each week now.Praise the Lord! We desire to help
with two cows and two houses per month but don’t have the funds to keep up
with that, nor the funds for Bibles for the rapidly growing movement of local
studies. Don't you want to be involved in touching needy people like this for Jesus?